[B-Greek] TINI LOGWi - I Cor. 15:2

Harold R. Holmyard III hholmyard at ont.com
Mon Dec 13 12:52:58 EST 2004


Dear Eric,

>I Corinthians 15:
>1. GNWRIZW DE hUMIN, ADELFOI,
>TO EUAGGELION hO EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN,
>hO KAI PARELABETE,
>EH hW KAI hESTHKATE,
>2. DI' hOU KAI SWiZESQE,
>TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN EI KATECETE,
>EKTOS EI MH EIKHi EPISTEUSATE.
>
>I've looked at BDAG and BDF and Robertson (Greek
>Grammar/Historical Research) and Perschbacher's
>NT Greek Syntax, and am still having a bit of trouble
>understanding how best to translate TINI LOGWi and
>how it functions here. TINI usually means "(by/with)
>what/whom?" and the grammars mention its use for
>an "indirect question." Yet others suggest that here it
>functions as a relative pronoun, which is how I and
>most translations understand it. I think Robertson says
>that it should not be taken as subordinate to EI
>KATECETE, but I'm not sure I understand what he means
>by that. Zerwick says it's an "indirect interrogative," but
>if so, how do you translate it so it has the sense of being
>a question?

Tis is either an interrogative pronoun or an indefinite pronoun. Here 
it seems pointed as an interrogative pronoun, but that can substitute 
for the relative pronoun. It does not seem to be functioning 
interrogatively. I believe TINI LOGWi is somewhat appositional to hOU 
three words earlier, as kind of a return to Paul's initial word TO 
EUAGGELION hO EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN. By putting the relative pronoun 
first in the line TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN EI KATECETE, Paul 
mimics the structure of the previous four verbal clauses. So the word 
order TINI LOGWi EUHGGELISAMHN hUMIN EI KATECETE is probably done for 
stylistic reasons, although it is not the most natural otherwise. I 
do believe that the dative in TINI LOGWi functions in relation to 
KATECETE. If you hold fast "to which word" I preached to you, you 
will be saved.

				Yours,
				Harold Holmyard





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